Casa di Rosemarie Authentic Italy - Budget Lodgings - For Wine Lovers - Green Vacations

Character: Whimsical and charming country estate belonging to one of Sicily's most illustrious families. Your lovely hostess is a member of the family, speaks impeccable English and raises all sorts of adorable farm animals. Advantages: A wonderful way to experience the most authentic part of Sicily, which has changed little in 100 years. For independent travelers looking to immerse themselves in an ancient way of life and willing to forego hotel services, this is a truly unique opportunity. Location: Outside Vallelunga in the very center of Sicily. 90 km from Palermo, 70 km from Agrigento and 150 km from Catania. Click here to see a map. Size: Only 5 guestrooms for 1 to 3 people each. Every room has its own en suite bathroom with shower and hair dryer. Features: Air conditioning in the suite, dinner available on request, winery visits available if booked in advance. Minimum stay: One night. Disadvantages: No air conditioning. There are farm animals in the proximity. If your hostess has to be away there is no one on the property who speaks English. Car needed: Absolutely. But there is a station 5 km away where you can take a train to/from Palermo.

Sicily is a land that offers everything a vacationer can ask for: wonderful landscapes; world-class archeological sites; 2000 years of historical places to visit; crystal-clear seas lined with broad sandy beaches or secluded rocky coves; colorful markets and festivals; some of the tastiest cuisine, freshest foods and prestigious wines in Italy; and last but absolutely not least, the nicest people you'll meet anywhere on earth. The best way to understand the true nature of Sicily is to visit both coasts, because they vary greatly. And as you are driving across the island, on one of the most picturesque highways in Europe, do stop and spend a few days in in the countryside. Here you'll find people who always have plenty of time to chat with you, and even if you don’t speak a word of each other’s languages, you will come away having made a friend. The minute you exit the free-of-charge autostrada that crisscrosses the island, you will be plunged into a world that has changed little in the past centuries. Gently winding farmroads virtually devoid of traffic make their way through sleepy villages and over rolling pastures where almond trees blossom white, olive trees flutter silver in the breeze, and flocks of sheep graze on vegetation that will find its glorious culmination in the next day’s ricotta (and by the way, if you think you’ve tasted ricotta, allow us to assure you that nothing comes close to the light, fluffy version produced in Sicily).

In the very center of the island lies a 1250-acre estate that has long belonged to one of the island's leading families. For over 100 years their farmers have harvested a bountiful wheat crop that turns the hillsides as emerald as Ireland in February and as golden as Montana in July. Vineyards have also been planted here since the 12th century: until recently the wine they produced was a decent local vintage. But in the past few decades this has all changed, and the estate is now home to one of Italy's most ultra-modern wineries where prize-winning vintages are bottled year after year. Guests of the estate are welcome to visit the winery (where locals also bring their empty bottles to be filled from old-fashioned gas station pumps!).

Like all large farms, this one is a beehive of activity in the midst of a peaceful country oasis. Sheep and goats need to be milked; chickens, duck and goose eggs need to be gathered; baby rabbits need to be fed; crops need to be gathered and processed; and of course the grapes need to receive more tender loving care than any of the above combined. For the most part, these activities are all performed in much the same way they have been for centuries, all the way back to the time when a delightful stone cottage was erected for the foreman's family to live in. Today that house has been carefully restored and tastefully furnished by your hostess Rosemarie, daughter of a real prince and proud resident of the country estate.

When guests of Rosemarie drive up to the house, they receive a warm welcome on the panoramic porch. Here in warmer months, you will enjoy breakfast or sip an afternoon apertif as you watch the sun set over golden fields and green hills. Inside there are sitting rooms where you can enjoy a book by the fire or a chat with fellow travelers, or feast on local specialties at brunch or dinner. It's easy to make acquaintances because there are only five guestrooms, each decorated individually with whimsical wall paintings, comfortable furniture and exquisite linens, and furnished with a queen bed or two twin beds, and en suite bathroom with shower and hair dryer. A small bed for a child under 12 years old can be added to some rooms to make a triple (no rooms are suitable for three adults). The air-conditioned suite also has a private terrace. The entire house is strictly non-smoking, and there is also a small fitness room. Optional extra services include laundry and dry cleaning, hairdresser, babysitter, massage, and private transfers to and from the airport and local train station. Breakfast is not included in the price, but it is always available for an extra 5 Euro/person.

For this property:
Children under 2 years old stay free of charge in their parents' double room. You must bring your own crib and bedding.
Breakfast is available for 5 Euro/person/day.
Brunch is served between 1 and 3 pm and must be booked in advance. It costs 20 Euro/person and includes wine and coffee.
Dinner is served between 7:30 and 10 pm and must be booked in advance. The cost is 30 Euro/person and it includes an aperitif, plus wine and coffee. Children 2 years old and under pay nothing.
A small housebroken pet is allowed and costs 15 Euro/night.
It is possible to check your email for a small fee.
Use of the solarium and fitness room costs 15 Euro/50 minutes. Only two people at a time please!

Please note that no credit cards are accepted at the B&B. Also, the route to this property is on country roads that are not well-marked and not well-lit. In Italy Online will provide you with detailed instructions, but you should be prepared to arrive at the property early so as not to get lost in the dark. Your hostess speaks perfect English but she is not always there so there may be times when no one on the spot speaks English. The staff is extremely well trained but it's good to be prepared to be independent at this location.

Click here for information about getting to Sicily.

Please note that you need a car to stay here.

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